ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog Welcomes Suman Bery as NITI Aayog Vice Chairman
NITI Aayog welcomes Shri Suman Bery as NITI Aayog’s Vice Chairman with effect from May 1 2022. An experienced policy economist and research administrator, Mr Bery will take over from Dr Rajiv Kumar as the head of the premier think tank of the Government of India.
“Rajiv Kumar leaves me a dynamic organization with lots of fresh, young talent and strong links with stakeholders inside and outside the government,” observed Mr Bery. “I am deeply honoured to have been entrusted with its charge at a time of great global uncertainty. NITI’s challenge is to develop a vision of the way ahead based on deep analysis and wide debate, and to work with India’s states, which is where economic development ultimately happens. India’s economic and social choices are of significance to the entire world,” he added.
Mr Bery has previously served as Director General  of the National Council of Applied Economic Research  and the global Chief Economist of Royal Dutch Shell. He was also a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, Statistical Commission and the Reserve Bank of India’s Technical Advisory Committee on Monetary Policy. Prior to NCAER, Mr Bery was with the World Bank in Washington DC and his areas included macroeconomy, financial markets and public debt management with a focus on Latin America.
His recent affiliations include Senior Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi; non-resident fellow at Bruegel, Brussels; and Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington DC. He has also served on the Board of the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, New Delhi.
|
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
|
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 218.68 Cr
Over 4.10 Cr 1st dose vaccines administered for age group 12-14 years
India's Active caseload currently stands at 38,293
3,805 new cases reported in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.73%
Weekly Positivity Rate is presently at 1.39%
India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 218.68 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today.
COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on 16 March, 2022. So far, more than 4.10 Cr  adolescents have been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, the COVID-19 precaution dose administration for age group 18-59 years also started from 10th April, 2022 onwards.
The break-up of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
|
|
Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1,04,15,204
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1,01,18,887
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
70,28,132
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1,84,36,829
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1,77,16,548
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
1,36,59,353
|
|
Age Group 12-14 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
4,10,30,931
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
3,17,93,640
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
6,19,46,334
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
5,30,78,937
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
56,12,83,472
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
51,58,13,517
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
9,62,02,389
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
20,40,31,332
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
19,69,72,934
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
4,90,06,717
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
12,76,70,033
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
12,31,46,337
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
4,74,94,321
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
21,33,90,912
|
|
Total
|
|
2,18,68,45,847
India’s Active Caseload currently stands at 38,293. Active cases now constitute 0.09% of the country's total Positive Cases.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.73%. 5,069 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients  is now at 4,40,24,164.
3,805 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
The last 24 hours saw a total of 2,95,416 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 89.53 Cr  cumulative tests.
Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 1.39% and the Daily Positivity rate is reported to be 1.29%.
NITI Aayog
Cabinet approves restructuring of National Health Agency as "National Health Authority" for better implementation of Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the restructuring of existing National Health Agency as "National Health Authority" for better implementation of Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana .
With this approval, the existing society "National Health Agency" has been dissolved and will be replaced by National Health Authority as an attached office to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
The existing multi-tier decision making structure has been replaced with the Governing Board chaired by the Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India which will enable the decision making at a faster pace, required for smooth implementation of the scheme. The composition of the Governing Board is broad based with due representations from the Government, domain experts, etc. Besides, the States shall also be represented in the Governing Board on rotational basis.
No new funds have been approved. Existing budget that was approved earlier by the Cabinet for The National Health Agency, including costs related to IT, human resources, infrastructure, operational costs etc. would be utilized by the proposed National Health Authority.
It is envisaged that the National Health Authority shall have full accountability, authority and mandate to implement PM-JAY through an efficient, effective and transparent decision-making process.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Union Labour Minister Asks Labour Bureau to Increase its Outreach through Digitisation
Kolkata, August 20, 2020
The Union Minister of State  for Labour and Employment, Shri Santosh Gangwar has asked the Labour Bureau to increase its outreach by way of total digitalization of its processes and use of Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence in its day-to-day operations. He further instructed to increase Labour Bureau outreach through opening of more Regional Offices and State Regional Offices in the country, while launching the official logo of the Labour Bureau, an attached office of the Union Ministry of Labour at New Delhi today. Shri Heeralal Samariya, the Ministry Secretary, Shri D P S Negi, the Director General, Labour Bureau and other senior officers of the Ministry were present on the occasion.
Lauding the efforts, Shri Gangowar stated that the Labour Bureau was established as a Directorate of Cost of Living at Shimla in the year 1941 with the objective of conducting Family Budget Enquiries and compiling the Cost of Living Index Numbers for important centres in the country on a uniform basis. The mandate of Labour Bureau is to act as a storehouse of important economic indicators like Consumer Price Index for Industrial worker, Agriculture & Rural Labour Numbers for Industrial, Agricultural and Rural Labourers; wage rate indices and data on employment/unemployment, industrial relations, socio-economic conditions in the organized and unorganized sector of industry etc. he added.
Both the Minister & the Secretary  informed that the century old 44 Labour Acts are being subsumed in four codes, out of this wage code is already enacted & three codes i.e. The Social Security, Industrial relations & occupational Safety, Health and working conditions have already been introduced in the Lok Sabha and once enacted, India’s ranking on “Ease of doing business” will go very high and the country will be a dream destination for Investment. The Labour Bureau, they stated, would collect data in a seamless way for this necessary provisions in codes & rules will be provided to give Statutory Powers to the Labour Bureau.
The newly launched logo represents that it is a data-based organisation dealing in data related to workers and work. The logo also represents the three goals that Labour Bureau strives to achieve in producing quality data i.e. Accuracy, Validity and Reliability. Blue wheel is a cog wheel representing work, choice of blue color signifies that we deal with blue collar workers, the graph is not going upwards alone as in real world data has ups & downs because it captures ground reality. A tricolored Graph, matching the colors of the National flag, along with wheat ears, signifying the fruit of rural agricultural labour, has been beautifully placed in the logo.
SSS
(Visitor Counter : 11
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister's visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be visiting Hiroshima, Japan on 19-21 May 2023 at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, for the G-7 Summit under the Japanese Presidency. During the Summit, Prime Minister will speak at G-7 sessions with partner countries, on subjects such as peace, stability & prosperity of a sustainable planet; food, fertiliser and energy security; health; gender equality; climate change and environment; resilient infrastructure; and development cooperation.
Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. He will also hold bilateral meetings with some of the other participating leaders on the side-lines of the Summit.
Prime Minister will then travel to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, where he will host the 3rd Summit of the Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation  jointly with Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, H.E. Mr. James Marape on 22 May 2023. Launched in 2014, FIPIC involves India and 14 Pacific Island Countries , namely, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Prime Minister Modi will have bilateral engagements in Papua New Guinea, including meetings with Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae and Prime Minister James Marape. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Papua New Guinea.
Thereafter, Prime Minister Modi will visit Sydney, Australia, on 22-24 May 2023 at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, to participate in the Quad Leaders’ Summit, along with H.E. Mr. Joseph R. Biden Jr. President of USA and H.E. Mr. Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan. The Summit provides an opportunity for the Leaders to exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and advance their vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
During his visit, Prime Minister will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Albanese on 24 May 2023. Prime Minister will also interact with Australian CEOs and business leaders, and address the Indian diaspora at a community event in Sydney on 23 May 2023.
Ministry of Communications
Telecommunication Engineering Centre  initiates fairness assessment of Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning Systems to build public trust
Telecommunication Engineering Centre , the technical arm of DoT has invited inputs for developing a framework for fairness assessment of Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning  Systems with the aim of building public trust in AI/ ML Systems.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications are increasingly being used in all domains such as Healthcare, Agriculture, Smart Cities, Smart Homes, Finance, Defence, Transport, Logistics, Natural Language Processing, Surveillance, and so on. Various Government Organisations are also using AI/ ML Systems for delivery of public services and e-governance.
Bias in AI/ ML Systems raises various ethical, social and legal issues. While the users expect these systems to be fair in their outcomes, a biased AI/ ML System prefers a certain demography while discriminating against others. When AI/ ML Systems are used for e-governance or by the judiciary, checking for their fairness would become a legal requirement. Therefore, one important requirement of Responsible AI is that the AI/ ML Systems should be unbiased or fair.
National Digital Communications Policy-2018 mandates for synergising deployment and adoption of AI. National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence #AIforAll, and the Approach Documents for India, released by NITI Aayog, establish broad ethical principles for design, development and deployment of AI in India.
With the aim to build public trust in AI/ ML Systems, TEC is working on Voluntary Fairness Assessment of AI/ ML Systems. Accordingly, TEC is initiating stakeholder consultations and has invited suggestions for framing procedures for assessing fairness for different types of AI/ ML Systems vide letter No.: 4-3/2022-C&B/TEC/AI-Fairness dated 22.02.2022. Details have been posted on TEC website https://tec.gov.in
As these systems are being used in all aspects of our lives, the initiative of TEC would benefit every citizen of the country. Startups and MSMEs in particular and even large enterprises will benefit as their products will be more credible and acceptable if they are assessed and certified by a neutral government agency such as TEC. It would also act as a benchmark for fairness, so Researchers, College students and other individuals, Government organisations and all segments of the society would benefit at large.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Aesthetic Dhokra Decorative Pieces Added to the Tribes India Collection
Exquisite Dhokra products from different tribes of India were among the main items added in its 7th edition of “From Our Home to your Home” campaign on Tribes India, which focusses on sourcing new, natural, attractive as well as immunity-boosting tribal products and bringing them to the customer.35 new products were included in the Tribes India catalogue over the past week. Key among them are the dhokra style metal work. Dhokra is a non-ferrous metal casting style which uses the lost-wax technique. This style of metal casting has been in vogue in all parts of India for centuries. The dhokra products reflect the simplicity and motifs of tribal and folk life and make for excellent gifting options. Hence they are popular both in India and abroad.
Among the dhokra products being introduced on Tribes India are attractive statues of fish, elephants and hangers in the boat jail design from the Lohra tribes of Jharkhand. From the Sadeibarainitribals from Odisha, Ganesha statues, including a dancing Ganesha, a mask of Goddess Durga and Lord Jagannath, a Buddha Jaali and beautiful diyas in different shapes have been sourced. These reasonably priced items will enhance the décor of any house and make for thoughtful gifts.
Other products include products from the Kattunayakan tribes of Tamil Nadu. These include different variants of pure, unadulterated honey, tasty pickles such as amla, vadu mango, ragiand types of rice. From the tribes of Assam, pure ghee, organic poha, pickles, raw honey have been sourced. All the new products introduced are available in 125 Tribes India outlets, Tribes India mobile vans and also on online platforms such as the Tribes India E-marketplace  and e-tailers.
Many new products  have been included in the past two months. The recently launched Tribes India e-marketplace, India’s largest handicraft and organic products marketplace which will connect 5 lakh tribal enterprises to national and international markets, showcases tribal produce and handicrafts, making them accessible to customers across the country. With a variety of natural and sustainable produce and products, the Tribes India e-marketplace offers a glimpse into the age-old traditions of our tribal brethren. Do check out market.tribesindia.com. Buy Local Buy Tribal!
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets the people on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted the people on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.
“सभी देशवासियों को पावन पर्व गणेश चतुर्थी की ढेर सारी शुभकामनाएं। गणपति बाप्पा मोरया! Wishing everyone a blessed Ganesh Chaturthi”, the Prime Minister said.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Shri Nitin Gadkari hails the Budget as historic giving new vision to new India
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari hailed the Budget as historic giving new vision to new India. He said it is exactly the vision of 21st century and the economic vision and priority has already decided by this budget. Shri Gadkari said the highest priority is for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribe, Farmers, Rural India, Agricultural India Tribal India, Gaon, Garib Majdoor Insaan , welfare of all the sectors is the highest priority in this budget. The second highest priority is for infrastructure. The Minister said he was really happy because he got the opportunity to work with Bharat Mala and Sagar Mala and now Parvat Mala a new programme has been started . Now it is rope way ,cable car which are a great gift for the area particularly hilly area of the country. He said it benefits North East, Uttarakhand, Himachal and Kashmir. Shri Gadkari said It is very important for not only goods but tourism also as this can create more employment potential. He said the budget reflects the new vision of Prime Minister and he was thankful to Finance Minister for giving this excellent Budget for the country.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Nelson Mandela International Day: Films Division to pay tribute to the iconic leader-statesman
‘Nelson Mandela: A Messiah of Freedom’ short film to be screened tomorrow on https://filmsdivision.org/
Mumbai, 17th July 2021
Films Division will pay tribute to Nelson Mandela, the icon of the anti-apartheid movement and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, on his 103rd birth anniversary on 18 July 2021 which is celebrated as the ‘Nelson Mandela International Day’. Films Division will be screening a documentary on the great leader-statesman and human rights activist, on its website https://filmsdivision.org/ under @ “Documentary of the Week” window. The film can also we watched on FD’s YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/FilmsDivision
Nelson Mandela: A Messiah of Freedom  highlights the life and struggle of the great South African leader who led the African National Congress to victory in the 1994 election, after being incarcerated for 27 years for leading his people in the fight against apartheid. The film presents his historic visit to India in the year 1990, showing all the honours and affection showered on him by India and her people.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
City Gas Infrastructure
The Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Rameswar Teli in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today informed that the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board  is the authority to grant authorization to the entities for developing of City Gas Distribution  network in Geographical Areas  as per PNGRB Act, 2006.Upto the 10th CGD bidding round, PNGRB has authorized 228 GAs, comprising 407 districts in 27 States/UTs covering 53 per cent of the geographical area and 70 per cent of its population, for the development of CGD networks. PNGRB has launched 11th CGD Bidding Round on 17.09.2021 and has received 439 bids from 26 entities against 61 GAs. Letter of Intents  for 52 GAs have been issued by PNGRB to 13 entities. Details of GAs authorized after the 10 bidding round  are at Annexure
Details of GAs authorized  in the country
|
|
S.No.
|
|
Round
|
|
Year
|
|
GA authorized
|
|
1
|
|
1st Round
|
|
2008
|
|
6
|
|
2
|
|
2nd Round
|
|
2009
|
|
3
|
|
3.
|
|
3rd Round
|
|
2011
|
|
4
|
|
4.
|
|
4th Round
|
|
2013
|
|
9
|
|
5.
|
|
5th Round
|
|
2015
|
|
8
|
|
6.
|
|
6th Round
|
|
2015
|
|
18
|
|
7.
|
|
7th Round
|
|
2016
|
|
1
|
|
8.
|
|
8th Round
|
|
2016
|
|
6
|
|
9.
|
|
9th Round
|
|
2018
|
|
86
|
|
10.
|
|
10th Round
|
|
2018
|
|
50
|
|
11
|
|
Authorized by Ministry
|
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
228
|
|
12.
|
|
11th Round
|
|
2021
|
|
Bids received for 61 GAs
Source: PNGRB
PIB Headquarters
Last date for TANCET 2019 extended
The last date for registration and submission of application through online for Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test  2019 for admission to  M.B.A.,  M.C.A.,  M.E./M.Tech/M.Arch./M.Plan. degree programmes for the academic year 2019-2020 is extended upto 31.05.2019, as per the press release issued by the secretary , Anna University, Chennai.
Ministry of Minority Affairs
National Commission for Minorities holds meeting with delegation from New Zealand
Shri Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities held a meeting with a delegation from New Zealand today. Those who participated in the meeting included Mr. Phil Goff, Mr. Mathew Robson,Mr. Daljit Singh, Mr. Lali Ranvir Singh and Mr. Anurag Sharma
The meeting was also attended by Ms. Rinchen Lhamo, Member, NCM and Ms. Paramita Tripathi, Joint Secretary, MEA along with officials of NCM.
Chairman, NCM apprised the delegation about the functions and mandate of NCM. They were informed that NCM works on education, employment of minorities other than dealing with issues of discrimination against the minorities. The delegation also explained the situation of minorities and their problems in New Zealand and the ways they are being handled there. There was fruitful exchange of dialogue and ideas between the two countries.
|
Ministry of Women and Child Development
|
WOMEN BENEFITTED UNDER PMMVY
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing Centrally Sponsored Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana  under which maternity benefits of ₹5,000/- is being provided in three installments to Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers  for the first living child of the family upon fulfillment of certain conditionalities. The maternity benefit under PMMVY is available to all PW&LM, excluding those who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or Public Sector Undertakings  or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force. The PMMVY is a component under Mission Shakti launched recently to provide integrated benefits to women. As per the recommendations of the Expenditure Finance Committee’s minutes on Mission Shakti, benefits for second child may be provided only if the second child is the girl child to discourage pre-birth-sex selection and promote the girl child.
The State/Union Territory-wise details of number of beneficiaries enrolled and total amount of maternity benefit disbursed under PMMVY since inception of the scheme and till 25.01.2022 is annexed.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
President's Secretariat
PRESIDENT OF INDIA’S GREETINGS ON THE EVE OF EASTER
The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu has sent her greetings to all fellow citizens on the eve of Easter.
In a message, the President has said, “On the auspicious occasion of Easter, I convey my greetings to all citizens living in India and abroad, especially the Christian community.
Celebrated as Jesus Christ’s resurrection, this festival of happiness is a symbol of love and compassion. Jesus Christ gave us the message of love and forgiveness by sacrificing his life for truth and justice. His life is an ideal example of compassion and sacrifice.
Let us spread love and harmony in our society by adopting the values of Lord Jesus Christ and take a pledge for contributing the development of nation”.
Please click here to see the President's message -